ATS claims Bangla terror outfit are a big threat to India

Mumbai: The country faces threat from Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh based banned terror outfit, said senior Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers. 

The ATS made a series of arrests of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in past one week and it has come to the fore that they assisted ABT operatives conduct reconnaissance of several cities including Mumbai in past two years. The ATS officials said that ABT is an imminent threat for safety and security of the country citing its past success rate. They are more dangerous than the Indian Mujahedeen, officials said.

The ATS officials are also ascertaining their connection with Bodhgaya blasts. The officials said that one of the arrested suspects, Raj Mandal, was working as a site supervisor in a army installation in Pune. The ATS is thoroughly questioning him and are trying to find if he had clicked any pictures or videos of the sensitive building. 

As per the probe of state ATS, several ABT terrorists visited India and reconnaissance of several cities including Mumbai was conducted. The operatives sheltered the illegal visitors. There is however no clarity on how many persons visited India and how many of them were provided with logistical support by the apprehended accused persons. 

The ATS officials have sent the phones of all the accused for forensic analysis and they are being questioned further.